2015 CEA Convention

In this presentation, we investigate the moral culture of public and religious private middle and high schools in comparison with the cultures of two other groups that are likely to have a moral influence on adolescents – sports teams and religious groups. Using a variety of self-report measures, we assess the extent to which the cultures of different groups influence students’ understanding of their own responsibilities in difficult moral situations. Preliminary results from our study indicate that students in the public schools experience a stronger sense of community on their sports teams than in their classrooms. We also found significant moral cultural differences between public and religious schools and among religious schools themselves. Some of the implications of our findings will be discussed in light of the unique educational setting of private Christian schools.